Expert Comparison: K2 Recon 100 MV Ski Boots vs Nordica Cruise 100 Ski Boots


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Video Transcript
My name is Leo. I'm a curated.com Ski Expert and a master boot fitter. Today, we're talking about the K2 Recon 100 Medium Volume ski boot versus the Nordica Cruise 100. These are two very different boots, despite them seeming kind of similar to the untrained eye.
K2 Recon 100 MV Ski Boots
Let's dive in and start with our higher performance model, the K2 Recon 100 Medium Volume. Unpacking that title, 100 is talking about the flex of the boot. That's how stiff the boot is. When you push on it, it pushes back on you, and shoots you forward. 100 is a really nice flex number for intermediate to advanced skiers, depending on weight and other additional factors. But 100 is a really nice average to land on if you're buying your first boot, especially coming out of rentals, which are typically around an 80 to 90 flex. Or, if you're scaling down from a 120 to 130 expert flex and you don't want something so demanding, it sits in a nice middle sweet spot.
This boot is also a medium volume boot. When we're talking about that, we're talking about the forefoot width, also known as the last, which is 100 millimeters across. 100 millimeters across in the forefoot is good for average to slightly wider feet. But overall, this boot is a great choice. I think it's a great value for the category at $449. It's got GripWalk, which is an enhanced walking feature. It's got a really nice liner on it. It's got plenty of adjustments in the buckles and overall, the plastic is really high quality. It's a great boot. I think the matte black is super attractive. If you're an intermediate to advanced skier looking for a pair of ski boots with enhanced walking and an average fit, this is a great choice.
Nordica Cruise 100 Ski Boots
Jumping over here, the Nordica Cruise 100 is what's called a High Volume Plus boot, meaning it's super wide fit. This is awesome because it makes skiing really accessible to people who might not be able to ski or have a good fit otherwise. With a 104 mm last, it's really wide in both the forefoot and in the cuff. But other than that, it's a pretty simple boot. It doesn't have an enhanced walking feature like GripWalk. The liner, the Comfort liner, is really nice and comfortable. There's not a ton of adjustment in the buckles, just your simple micro adjustments. Of course, you can move the ladders over. It's pretty standard in that regard.
I would prefer to see a buckle that maybe had more adjustment considering this is built for people with really wide feet. However, it's still very accessible. There is a ton of manipulation that you can do to boots in general to continue to open this up. So, there's never just an out-of-the-box fit when it comes to ski boots. There's a ton of things that you can do to dial it in and that's what your curated.com expert is here to help you with, just as much as getting you into the proper boot to begin with.
Similarities and Differences
So, if you are not sure which one is right for you, whether it's a more average volume, higher performance fit like the K2 Recon, or a more generous comfort fit like the Nordica Cruise, we got it all. So come slide into our DM's, come chat with your curated.com expert. We will get you dialed into that perfect fit just for you.
Comparison Table
Product | K2 Recon 100 Medium Volume | Nordica Cruise 100 |
Product Characteristics | 100 flex, 100mm last, GripWalk | 100 flex, 104mm last |
Best For | Intermediate to advanced skiers | Skiers with wide feet |
Limitations | Average to Slightly Wide Feet | Less buckle adjustment |
Additional Features | Enhanced walking feature, adjustable buckles, Luxfit | Comfort liner |